Champions Day, Hong Kong Style

The calendar says April, but the feel Sunday at Sha Tin will be more like December, when the Hong Kong Jockey Club stages the G1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup (2000m), the G1 Champions Mile and the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) on a single program for the first time. Not surprisingly, the cream of the crop of the locals will comprise the majority of the entries, with a three-pack of Japanese invaders and a European raider via Dubai.

At HK$24 million, the QE II Cup is the day's richest affair and is frequently the case, features the winner of the Hong Kong Derby taking on the established middle-distance runners. Ping Hai Star (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}) is the proverbial rising star in Hong Kong, having shot through the grades capped by a breathtaking last-to-first victory in the Derby when stepping up to the 2000 metres for the first time Mar. 18. He can join the likes of Vengeance of Rain (NZ), Ambitious Dragon (NZ), Designs On Rome (Ire) and Werther as horses to successfully complete the double.

To do so, he'll have to defeat a field that includes G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup hero Time Warp (GB) (Archipenko), whose sire won the race a decade ago, and 'TDN Rising Star' Pakistan Star (Ger) (Shamardal), the local cult hero who was only recently cleared to race. Last year's runner-up was to be ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, who backed out of the mount earlier this week, and then Kerrin McEvoy, who was stood down Saturday in Australia with an ear infection. William Buick will be at the controls on the 5-year-old who has the tools to win this if he's got his mind on racing. Neorealism (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) won the race for Japan last year and the country is double-fisted in the form of Al Ain (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Danburite (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}). Of the two, 2017 G1 Satsuki Sho winner Al Ain is the choice, but his on-track antics during the week raise at least a few questions.

WATCH: Ping Hai Star winning the Hong Kong Derby

The usual suspects, including five from the John Size yard, line up for the Chairman's Sprint Prize. Mr Stunning (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) dropped a narrow decision to the re-opposing Lucky Bubbles (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) last season, but shot to the top of the class with a victory in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December. The 5-year-old was the short-odds runner-up in his last two, including a defeat at the hands of stable companion Beat the Clock (Aus) (Hinchinbrook {Aus}) when giving that one five pounds in the G2 Sprint Cup three weeks ago. Sam Clipperton has the pick-up mount. European sprinters routinely struggle in Hong Kong, but Godolphin sends in Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal) to try to right that wrong. His 3-year-old form from last year reads very strong and he was going to start an odds-on favourite in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Mar. 31 before being withdrawn at the stalls. He's looked fantastic at trackwork this week and his price should appeal. Sheikh Mohammed's operation is also represented by Fine Needle (Jpn) (Admire Moon {Jpn}), last-start winner of the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen.

A field of eight locals is set for the Champions Mile, led by G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile upsetter Beauty Generation (NZ) (Road to Rock {Aus}), who will try to give trainer John Moore a sixth win in the race in the last nine years. Third in last year's Derby, he has dropped back to 1400-1600m and added a victory in the G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup in February ahead of a tame fifth to Beauty Only (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the G2 Chairman's Trophy Apr. 8. Seasons Bloom (Aus) (Captain Sonador {Aus}) was favoured when fourth in the Hong Kong Mile, but atoned for that effort with a score in the G1 Stewards Cup in late January. He returns to the mile off a good third to Time Warp in the 2000m G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup. Singapore Sling (SAf) (Philanthropist) was runner-up in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and won the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) before finishing closest to Ping Hai Star in the Derby. The return to 1600m can work in his favour.